The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-03-18
JAPANESE ART IN NEW YORK.
Aspectaele Which Few People Have Ever
Seen on This Side ofthe Water.

That everything that is worth seeing
can be seen in New York, is not a truism /;
but it is true that there are many things
that are worth observing that are not
generally seen.
But limited number of persons are
aware that there are two rooms in one
of the Japanese manufacturing and
trading companies that truly represent
a miniature house, and which are
finished, furnished and decorated in the
true japanese style.
The house is the work OF ffrst-cIass
mechanic of Toxic. An ascent Of five
steps brings one to the outer door, which
is OF hardwood and sliding, as indeed are
all the Japanese doors, which move with
out creak or jar.
This door leads to the reception or
" tea room. The ceiling is con-
Structed of woven bamboo yariegated,
smoked and natural. Along the hard
WOOL wainscotting there is a border of
lacquered wood and the walls are
covered with paper in gold spatterwork of
a soft. artistic tone.
There is nothing nailed TO the floor
but under the feet is mating which
feel unusually soft and springy. This
ma ting Is laid on a cushion or bed Of
straw about six inches thick and in
closed in cloth and corresponding In
width to the mating.
The size of a Japanese apartment Is
never given in feet or inches. but i5
eaid to be a room of so many mattings,
and mating is generally understoo4 to
represent a space Cf three by ten feet
The wlHdew in the recepliOn-rOOm is
made Of 7 ce paper inst ad of glass, and
Civ s just as much light a though con-
structed of the latter material, although
1t - OF softer tone. In Japan it is
customary for only the richest class
to have rice-paper windows in their
dwellings.
This room contains a sidehoard upon
which there are water bottles and tea
caddies, while underneath there is a set
OF lacquer ware for rice and other soft
food, and porcelain ware for meat and
fish.
In the centre Of the room there stands
q bronze fire-box containing a bed of
ashes Of fern leaves. When it is desired
to have a fire some charcoal is placed
on those ashes and kiudled in the open
air, and after the smoke escapes it is
returned to the room aud throws out
good heat.
Between the taa-room and the parlor
Gre hand-painted silk-front sliding doors,
which can be opened from either size.
The ceiling ana wal scOttinC Of the par
ior are ofvariou5 hard woods, the walls
and floors being covered similar 70 those
OF the receptIon-room.
Here, of course, is fornd an incense
burner and bronze smoking sets. But
Few ornaments are visible. On opening
cup Oard, however, IN one corner OF
the room, various cUrioS are found.
This is the prevailing custom III Japan,
and the N -treSS Of the hOu changes
the ornaments from ne to t.me, put
ting those not in use in the cupboard.
On state occasions, however, she oIs-
plays her entire collect on.
About the house are scattered num-
ber of small windows with panel OF
fret work. with bamboo shades. There
are not any chairs in the house, their
place being supplied by cushions.
In oua part OF the parlor there is
raised platform which is kept ior dis
tinguished guests, and the host is sup
posed to kneeI DeIore IL to serve
them.
The woodwork and interior finish are
very simple, the doors and window
frames are without mouldings, and
there are no mantel carvings. Repeated
dUstiugs and rubbings have given to the
natural wood polished surface and
mel Ow tint.
The bea .iful lacquer work, formerly
so extensively manufactured by this
skilfuI people, and which could be pro-
cured at so trifling a cost, is now becom-
ing rare: in fact, so valuable has this
old lacquer work become, that many
pieces OF it have been returned from
Paris, New York and other art centres
to Japan to be sold.-[N. Y. Mail and
ExDraSs